Advertisers from Apple to Walt Disney have suspended or halted spending on X after its billionaire owner asserted Jewish people “hate” white people.

Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman defended Elon Musk after major advertisers pulled ads from social media site X over antisemitic commentary. Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman defended Elon Musk after major advertisers pulled ads from social media site X over antisemitic commentary.

Billionaire Elon Musk stood out in appearance and rhetoric at a summit featuring some of the world's most powerful figures in politics, business and entertainment.

Elon Musk, in his first interview with mainstream media since his antisemitic post on X, apologized for what he called his “dumbest” ever social media post. But he lashed out at advertisers leaving his platform because of rising antisemitism on X.

Although Mr. Musk acknowledged that an extended boycott could bankrupt X, he suggested that the public would blame the brands rather than him for its collapse.

Elon Musk on Wednesday at a New York Times/DealBook Summit responded to advertisers leaving Twitter/X and Disney CEO Bob Iger's criticism of the company. ANDREW ROSS SORKIN, NY TIMES: Obviously know that there's a public perception that -- and you are clarifying this now,